On the 11th of November, 2011 (11/11/11), which is no doubt a date with aesthetic value and auspicious meanings, five of our members would be departing from the lovely state of Selangor for the equally lovely state of Penang, to partake in an programme known as the 'Gathering of Young Minds' programme, which would be held in SMK (P) St. George from the 11th to the 13th of November.
They would be taking a bus to their destination, and are scheduled to arrive at Penang in the afternoon. We would then be given a tea break at 4.30pm, before being given some time to pray (for the Muslims) at 5.30pm. At 6.30pm, they would be having dinner, and at 7 pm, all Muslims would once again be given some time to pray. At 8pm, the ice-breaking session and opening ceremony would commence, before it ends at 10pm. The days ends with them being served supper at 10.30pm.
On the second day, they are scheduled to rise and shine at 5.30am in the morning. Breakfast would be served at 6.30am, and at 7.30am, a fitness exercise would commence. They would be given a short break at 8.30am, and the poster presentation competition would begin at 9 am. After a short break at 10.30 am, the day would continue with a 'Best Practices Presentation Competition' at 11am until 1pm. It is a competition that is participated by six selected High-Performance Schools. At 2pm, after they've had our lunch, they would embark upon a 4-hour 'Heritage Tour' around Penang. They would then be given one hour from 7pm to pray and freshen up, before attending the 'Konsert Simfoni Perdana', which ends at 10pm. Like the day prior, supper would be served at 10.30pm, and then the time would come for them to call it a day.
On their third and final day, their schedule in the morning is more or less the same as the previous day, except for the fact that their fitness session ends half an hour later. They would then be given a break, and at 10 am, the closing ceremony would commence, ending at 11.30 am. Lunch would then be served for an hour, and they are scheduled to leave SMK (P) St. George at 1 pm.
It most certainly sounds as though our representatives have much to look forward to!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Penang, Here We Come!
It has been four years for us, senior members of SA Eco Rangers in this club. We were the founders of the club and this year would be the last year for us to lead SA Eco Rangers. 2012 will be a start of a new beginning as after four long years of hard work, joy and laughter we will be handing over the club to our juniors. We believe that the juniors would do a spectacular job and maintain this GREEN LEGACY of Sri Aman :)
This trip to Penang would be the very last competition or presentation session that we, seniors will be taking part in and hopefully, we will be able to bring back the news of success to Sri Aman. Well, we will be representing Sri Aman in the Young Minds Gathering Program, organized by the Ministry of Education which involves all the 52 High Performance Schools in Malaysia. It will be a 3 day program, from the 11th of November to the 13th of November 2011. Two competitions which include a presentation as well as a poster designing competition related to the school's ethos will be held. Since Sri Aman's ethos is to be a Green School, we are honoured and very delighted represent the school for the prestigious, national level competition.
We will definitely make full use of our time in Penang to gain experience and this visit would be a great platform for us to exchange ideas among the youths and leaders of Malaysia. Oh yes, we are definitely looking forward for the Penang Heritage Tour too!
This trip to Penang would be the very last competition or presentation session that we, seniors will be taking part in and hopefully, we will be able to bring back the news of success to Sri Aman. Well, we will be representing Sri Aman in the Young Minds Gathering Program, organized by the Ministry of Education which involves all the 52 High Performance Schools in Malaysia. It will be a 3 day program, from the 11th of November to the 13th of November 2011. Two competitions which include a presentation as well as a poster designing competition related to the school's ethos will be held. Since Sri Aman's ethos is to be a Green School, we are honoured and very delighted represent the school for the prestigious, national level competition.
We will definitely make full use of our time in Penang to gain experience and this visit would be a great platform for us to exchange ideas among the youths and leaders of Malaysia. Oh yes, we are definitely looking forward for the Penang Heritage Tour too!
So Penang, Here We Come!
Monday, November 7, 2011
When the SA Eco Music Band Practices
Once upon a time, there lived a group of friends. Under the leadership of their ruler and empress, they named themselves the Sri Aman Eco Music Band.
This is the aforementioned ruler and empress. Though she tries to act like an emperor instead of an empress, she's actually a huge softie inside, which is why members of the Sri Aman Eco Music Band wear permanent fond smiles on their faces whenever she is present.
Fond smiles for the empress!
The empress is assisted by two equally amusing people.
They are very amusing, so they, too, get fond smiles.
Highly synchronised fond smiles for the two amusing people!
This is one of the amusing people. In this amusing picture, she appears to be casting a spell to wake a beautiful princess up from her deep slumber. 'Rise and shine, exquisitely beautiful princess! We have to compete in the Eco Music Fest in a few days, so it's time for us to practice,' she said, while waving her magical wand.
The exquisitely beautiful, sleeping princess. ;)
With the task of waking the princess out of the way, the Eco Music Band started practicing.
They then paused for a short break, during which a member of the Eco Music Band decided to show everyone how to tie their hair, in order to enhance their beauty.
At this point, the empress unleashed her dazzling smile, proving that one doesn't need to tie one's hair in order to be stunning.
Some members required glasses after being exposed to her dazzling smile, as the brilliance was too much for them to bear.
While others remained dazed for a long period of time, after the empress's smile was unleashed.
Eventually, the aftereffects of the empress's smile wore off, and everyone was once again, capable of practicing. That was precisely what they did, until the day of the Eco Music Fest.
To this day, the members of the Eco Music Band remain a close-knit bunch. They still play, laugh, sing, and practice together, under the leadership of their beloved empress.
:)
Organic Farming Workshop on the 4th of December
On the 4th of December, Eco Rangers, as well as the Form 3 students of our school, who were recently freed from the constricting burden of their PMR examinations were treated to a high educational and interesting talk on Organic Farming by Mr Tapur, an organic farmer who collaborated with The University of Malaya to bring this talk to us. He was accompanied by a few volunteers from the University of Malaya.
Firstly, we were introduced to the basics of organic farming, such as the benefits of organic farming, as well as the advantages of doing so over commercial farming. We were also urged to grow our own vegetables over buying them as he said growing our vegetables is an economical as well as an environmentally-friendly decision, and doing so also reduces our carbon footprint. Growing our own vegetables also ensures that we will have a constant supply of food. We were also given some theoretical information on how to carry out organic farming.
We were then shown how to improve the properties of soil. First of all, he said that Malaysian soil is acidic in nature, which is why a combination of Calcium Oxide and Magnesium is used to reduce its acidity. We were then given a live demonstration on how to make fish amino acid, which is a good source of nitrogen and protein for the soil and plants. Firstly, we had to cut up some fish into around 5 segments. The fish is then mixed with molasses, otherwise known as brown sugar. We were told that if we made the fish amino acid correctly, kept it out of damp places, mixed it every now and then, and covered it with a porous cloth to prevent flies from alighting on our mixture, it should not smell after a couple of days. We were also told that the fish amino acid can keep for up to 6 months.
We were then shown how to extract the nutrients found in egg shells to increase the content of nutrients in the soil. We first had to juice enough limes to provide enough juice to immerse 10 eggs in. This is to corrode the shell of the egg, so that its nutrients can be extracted. The eggs would then be crushed and mixed into the concoction, as they are a good source of protein. Like the fish amino acid, this concoction can also keep for around 6 months. The upside to making this concoction? The peels of the limes used to provide juice for the eggs are perfect for making garbage enzyme, which is not only good for the soil, but also has a multitude of other uses. We were even told that it can be drunk!
After the demonstrations were over, every participant of the workshop was treated to a scrumptious late breakfast, consisting of chicken curry, roti jala, maggi goreng, pudding, and mango juice. After all the excitement, everyone was ravenously hungry. Thankfully, there was more than enough food to go around. Having sated themselves thoroughly, participants were more than happy and eager to move on to the next agenda of the day - the hands-on organic farming session.
Participants of the workshop were led to the proposed site of our vegetable garden, and were shown how to prepare vegetable beds. There was a lot to be done, apparently. First of all, all the grass had to be removed from the vegetable bed. Paths cutting across the vegetable beds also had to be dug, for our convenience. The soil also had to be loosened, and large rocks buried in the soil also had to be removed, along with any potentially harmful pests we uncovered as we were carrying out our respective tasks. Some corn seeds were then planted, and Mr Tapur kindly informed all of us that the corn would be ready for harvesting in a month.
The University Malaya volunteers added the finishing touches to our newly-prepared vegetable beds by sprinkling some compost over the beds. We were told that the compost was made using cow manure, which is a thought we would have cringed at, had we not obtained first-hand experiences in dealing with animal manure during our last composting session with Miss Tan. As it were, we bravely and boldly stuck our delicate, gentle (and gloved) female hands into the sacks of cow manure and sprinkled it over our vegetable beds as though doing so was part and parcel of our everyday lives.
We also harvested the batch of compost we made a few months ago, and Mr Tapur commented on the high fertility of our compost, a fact that was apparently evidenced by the fact that our compost was (and probably still is) completely overrun by earthworms and strange insects. Before taking his leave, Mr Tapur gave us a gentle reminder to keep up our efforts in organic farming by jokingly threatening to report us to the police should we give up on our vegetable garden. He then told us that he would return next year, after school reopens, to further assist us in improving the condition of our vegetable garden, a gesture we truly appreciated.
We can't wait for the next school year to begin, as we're eager to see our vegetable garden yield produce. Should we be allowed to consume the vegetables we planted, it would be the first time most of us got to eat vegetables planted by ourselves. That should be an unforgettable experience, as nothing tastes better than the fruits of our own labour. :)
Firstly, we were introduced to the basics of organic farming, such as the benefits of organic farming, as well as the advantages of doing so over commercial farming. We were also urged to grow our own vegetables over buying them as he said growing our vegetables is an economical as well as an environmentally-friendly decision, and doing so also reduces our carbon footprint. Growing our own vegetables also ensures that we will have a constant supply of food. We were also given some theoretical information on how to carry out organic farming.
We were then shown how to improve the properties of soil. First of all, he said that Malaysian soil is acidic in nature, which is why a combination of Calcium Oxide and Magnesium is used to reduce its acidity. We were then given a live demonstration on how to make fish amino acid, which is a good source of nitrogen and protein for the soil and plants. Firstly, we had to cut up some fish into around 5 segments. The fish is then mixed with molasses, otherwise known as brown sugar. We were told that if we made the fish amino acid correctly, kept it out of damp places, mixed it every now and then, and covered it with a porous cloth to prevent flies from alighting on our mixture, it should not smell after a couple of days. We were also told that the fish amino acid can keep for up to 6 months.
We were then shown how to extract the nutrients found in egg shells to increase the content of nutrients in the soil. We first had to juice enough limes to provide enough juice to immerse 10 eggs in. This is to corrode the shell of the egg, so that its nutrients can be extracted. The eggs would then be crushed and mixed into the concoction, as they are a good source of protein. Like the fish amino acid, this concoction can also keep for around 6 months. The upside to making this concoction? The peels of the limes used to provide juice for the eggs are perfect for making garbage enzyme, which is not only good for the soil, but also has a multitude of other uses. We were even told that it can be drunk!
After the demonstrations were over, every participant of the workshop was treated to a scrumptious late breakfast, consisting of chicken curry, roti jala, maggi goreng, pudding, and mango juice. After all the excitement, everyone was ravenously hungry. Thankfully, there was more than enough food to go around. Having sated themselves thoroughly, participants were more than happy and eager to move on to the next agenda of the day - the hands-on organic farming session.
Participants of the workshop were led to the proposed site of our vegetable garden, and were shown how to prepare vegetable beds. There was a lot to be done, apparently. First of all, all the grass had to be removed from the vegetable bed. Paths cutting across the vegetable beds also had to be dug, for our convenience. The soil also had to be loosened, and large rocks buried in the soil also had to be removed, along with any potentially harmful pests we uncovered as we were carrying out our respective tasks. Some corn seeds were then planted, and Mr Tapur kindly informed all of us that the corn would be ready for harvesting in a month.
The University Malaya volunteers added the finishing touches to our newly-prepared vegetable beds by sprinkling some compost over the beds. We were told that the compost was made using cow manure, which is a thought we would have cringed at, had we not obtained first-hand experiences in dealing with animal manure during our last composting session with Miss Tan. As it were, we bravely and boldly stuck our delicate, gentle (and gloved) female hands into the sacks of cow manure and sprinkled it over our vegetable beds as though doing so was part and parcel of our everyday lives.
We also harvested the batch of compost we made a few months ago, and Mr Tapur commented on the high fertility of our compost, a fact that was apparently evidenced by the fact that our compost was (and probably still is) completely overrun by earthworms and strange insects. Before taking his leave, Mr Tapur gave us a gentle reminder to keep up our efforts in organic farming by jokingly threatening to report us to the police should we give up on our vegetable garden. He then told us that he would return next year, after school reopens, to further assist us in improving the condition of our vegetable garden, a gesture we truly appreciated.
We can't wait for the next school year to begin, as we're eager to see our vegetable garden yield produce. Should we be allowed to consume the vegetables we planted, it would be the first time most of us got to eat vegetables planted by ourselves. That should be an unforgettable experience, as nothing tastes better than the fruits of our own labour. :)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Upcoming trip to Taiwan
Taiwan. Ah, the fabled land of good food, beautiful sceneries, and pleasant people. Never in my life had I foreseen that my very first trip to Taiwan would be on a school trip. The sheer thought alone invites incredulousity and disbelief, because to put it simply, it seems far too good to be true. As much as I can't believe my good luck, the fact that 10 lucky Eco Rangers would be visiting Taiwan from the 15th to 18th of November remains a fact, albeit a pleasant one.
We would be taking a morning flight to Taiwan, which departs from the LCCT. We would first arrive at Taipei, and would be taking a high-speed train to Kaohsiung, where we would be spending most of our time at. A quick internet check put my fears about catching a cold from the winter chill to rest, because the temperature is predicted to hover around 20 to 30 degrees celcius. Our teacher advisors for the trip, Cik Tan and Puan Ngau, were quick to put any myths about there being snow in Taiwan during the winter to rest by informing us that it does not snow in Taiwan.
On our first day, we would be touring various green buildings in Kaohsiung, such as the Green Library. On the second day, we would be visiting The Affiliated Senior High School of National Kaohsiung Normal University, which is abbreviated as NKNUASHS to learn and exchange ideas regarding implementing green features and projects in our school. We would be shown some of the green facilities implemented in their school, such as a water saving tap.
On the third day, we would be shown what Kaohsiung has to offer, through a thoroughly planned touring and shopping trip - what better way for us girls to get ourselves acquainted with a new place, right? On the forth day, we would once again, take a high-speed train back to Taipei as that's where our flight back to Malaysia leaves from. Fortunately for us, we have a night flight, which means that we'll have plenty of time to kill in the capital of Taiwan before we have to make our way to the airport. What an upside!
Needless to say, all ten of us are eagerly anticpating our upcoming trip. Stay posted to know how our trip went! :)
We would be taking a morning flight to Taiwan, which departs from the LCCT. We would first arrive at Taipei, and would be taking a high-speed train to Kaohsiung, where we would be spending most of our time at. A quick internet check put my fears about catching a cold from the winter chill to rest, because the temperature is predicted to hover around 20 to 30 degrees celcius. Our teacher advisors for the trip, Cik Tan and Puan Ngau, were quick to put any myths about there being snow in Taiwan during the winter to rest by informing us that it does not snow in Taiwan.
On our first day, we would be touring various green buildings in Kaohsiung, such as the Green Library. On the second day, we would be visiting The Affiliated Senior High School of National Kaohsiung Normal University, which is abbreviated as NKNUASHS to learn and exchange ideas regarding implementing green features and projects in our school. We would be shown some of the green facilities implemented in their school, such as a water saving tap.
On the third day, we would be shown what Kaohsiung has to offer, through a thoroughly planned touring and shopping trip - what better way for us girls to get ourselves acquainted with a new place, right? On the forth day, we would once again, take a high-speed train back to Taipei as that's where our flight back to Malaysia leaves from. Fortunately for us, we have a night flight, which means that we'll have plenty of time to kill in the capital of Taiwan before we have to make our way to the airport. What an upside!
Needless to say, all ten of us are eagerly anticpating our upcoming trip. Stay posted to know how our trip went! :)
Upcoming trip to Stomp '11
There is no doubt about the fact that being an Eco Ranger is a lot of work, but more often than not, our hard work usually translates to a lot of fun, and if we're lucky, we might even get unexpected rewards in return. Participating in the recent Eco Music Fest was a good example. For around 2 to 3 weeks, our lives were a blur of band practices, skipping classes to carry out the aforementioned activity, taking short breaks, and then, practicing again. Not that any of us band members were complaining - practicing gave us golden opportunities to bond over lame jokes and off-pitch singing, after all. :)
I'm pleased to announce that our hard work paid off in the form of us emerging champions of the competition, allowing us to walk away with a digital camera and 15 thumbdrives. We were delighted, and overwhelmed with glee by our unexpected win and the prizes we received, so we thought that the rewards for our hard work ended there. Imagine our surprise when we were greeted by the news that in order to reward us for all the hard work we invested, the school was sending us on a trip to watch Stomp, a percussion group using everyday objects to produce music, live in action!
We couldn't believe our ears. All of a sudden, we were attending a concert, and it's not just any concert, it's the heavily publicised STOMP '11 - LONDON'S WEST END SENSATION RETURNS TO KUALA LUMPUR! Our glees were barely suppressed enough for us to grasp more details regarding our upcoming trip to the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, where Stomp would be entertaining us. Details such as the fact that we were going for the December 3rd afternoon show, and that we're taking a bus from school, would have soared over our heads, had those details not been of paramount importance. There are going to be around 30 students going for the concert, including us Eco Band members, which was yet another good news. As they say, the more the merrier!
We are eagerly anticipating the 3rd of December, as that trip would most definitely be one of the highlights of our years as Eco Rangers.
I'm pleased to announce that our hard work paid off in the form of us emerging champions of the competition, allowing us to walk away with a digital camera and 15 thumbdrives. We were delighted, and overwhelmed with glee by our unexpected win and the prizes we received, so we thought that the rewards for our hard work ended there. Imagine our surprise when we were greeted by the news that in order to reward us for all the hard work we invested, the school was sending us on a trip to watch Stomp, a percussion group using everyday objects to produce music, live in action!
We couldn't believe our ears. All of a sudden, we were attending a concert, and it's not just any concert, it's the heavily publicised STOMP '11 - LONDON'S WEST END SENSATION RETURNS TO KUALA LUMPUR! Our glees were barely suppressed enough for us to grasp more details regarding our upcoming trip to the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, where Stomp would be entertaining us. Details such as the fact that we were going for the December 3rd afternoon show, and that we're taking a bus from school, would have soared over our heads, had those details not been of paramount importance. There are going to be around 30 students going for the concert, including us Eco Band members, which was yet another good news. As they say, the more the merrier!
We are eagerly anticipating the 3rd of December, as that trip would most definitely be one of the highlights of our years as Eco Rangers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)